I am looking forward to seeing shows that aren't the first 3 or 4 shows of the tour.

St. Paul 2016 was a blast, but that was mostly due to selection (I got a ton of firsts), and not necessarily because of how they were playing. Chicago 2017 N1 was a blast, but then you listen to every subsequent show of the summer, and you realize pretty quickly that there was a major gap in quality between N1 and the next worst show of the summer - let alone between N1 and "midseason form."

Also, all three of my shows this July are indoors - and 6 out of 9 shows total are indoors!!!

Well, here we are, Mr. Pilgrim, trapped in the amber of this moment. There is no why.~4~

How about Tweezer -> Twenty Years Later -> Saw It AgainMaybe not. They just played Twenty Years Later the first night at The Forum. Although 2015 had Waiting All Night the last night at The Forum and again at the next show in Texas.

The second set featured a remarkable jam after Harry Hood ended and before Forbin’s began, as well as an appearance by Ken Kesey and the Merry Pranksters. The Merry Pranksters Jam contained a Somewhere Over the Rainbow tease from Trey, an If I Only Had a Brain tease, a Spam Song quote, and a Frankenstein jam.

Here's your ticket pack your bagTime for jumpin' overboardThe transportation is hereClose enough but not too far,Maybe you know where you areFightin' fire with fire

Just hit my 20th over the weekend (Vernon Downs). That Darien Lake show was supposed to be my first but my cousin got married that weekend and I had to give up my ticket.

Was also at the Columbus one from above. Summer Tour 2000 was a lot of fun. First and only time at Deer Creek and Polaris.

I with I could say the same for this current summer tour. Overall, I'm not impressed. I've listened to a lot of songs from every show (up to 10-Aug right now, but I skipped both Camden shows) and there aren't many standouts, and I'm referring to both songs and shows, that I'd consider coming back to down the road. That first monster Set Your Soul Free was great but other than that nothing has had me eager enough to give a re-listen. The Jim/Antelope that I'm sure people will reference looks way better on paper than in my ears. The Drowned won that set anyways, imo. If I had to vote, Gorge night 3 (22-Jul) has been my favorite so far.

[edit] After I wrote this, I finally got to the YEM from 10-Aug. Definitely one of the better songs I've heard from this tour.[/edit]

booztravlr wrote:I with I could say the same for this current summer tour. Overall, I'm not impressed. I've listened to a lot of songs from every show (up to 10-Aug right now, but I skipped both Camden shows) and there aren't many standouts, and I'm referring to both songs and shows, that I'd consider coming back to down the road.

There are a number of shows that I have loved so far this summer, but the tour as a whole has lacked the consistency that Fall 14, Summer 15, or all of 17 had. Yoni has suggested that they are focusing their attention elsewhere (learning a Halloween album). Fone has suggested that the weather and travel schedule of an aging band and fan base are disrupting the usual shared energy. Both seem plenty plausible.

Prior to Tahoe, I had a goofy little mantra in which I stated that 2017 was an unusual year, and if summer 2018 doesn't measure up to it, that doesn't mean it is a bad tour. I stand by this. I have thoroughly enjoyed just about every other show, and I have found bits and pieces that I liked in every show.

booztravlr wrote: The Jim/Antelope that I'm sure people will reference looks way better on paper than in my ears.

From: Re: 08-10 Raleigh, NC

Harpua wrote:Then the Runaway->Run Like and Antelope mashup, which admittedly reads better than it actually was[...]

Well, here we are, Mr. Pilgrim, trapped in the amber of this moment. There is no why.~4~

Weather/travel schedule definitely seem very plausible. Didn't really think about those factors. Speaking of which, Watkins Glen is being bombarded with so much rain right now it's reached the 'State of Emergency' level. I'm just east of Syracuse and it's been monsoon-like here all day. Hopefully this passes and doesn't cause too much damage before people start arriving on Thursday. Wish I could go but I'll now be 0-3 at festivals there. Someday, dammit.

On a brighter note, night 2 MD has sounded a lot better so far. Just starting Curtain With. Although, I gotta say night 1 MD, set 1 really looks like a rough one on paper. I just skipped the whole show.

Was that the one from 7/14 where they stopped for 25 minutes after opening with Sample? I was at that one too. Luckily I was in the pavillion far enough to avoid getting soaked.

I've listened to a lot of songs from every show

But not the whole shows...

I with I could say the same for this current summer tour. Overall, I'm not impressed. I've listened to a lot of songs from every show (up to 10-Aug right now, but I skipped both Camden shows) and there aren't many standouts, and I'm referring to both songs and shows

Sometimes I think that I'm just listening to different shows from some people. I don't get where this comes from. And, no standouts? Georgia night 1 was one of the better shows I've heard in years. I give up even trying to figure out the negativity.

I guess that makes sense. But it does seem that if this latest year isn't somehow better than the last then that means folks are "not impressed." Just kind of comes off as the standards being impossibly high.

Can't wait for this weekend either way.

Although, I gotta say night 1 MD, set 1 really looks like a rough one on paper. I just skipped the whole show.